In this activity, participants are asked to sort over 80 values into: Most important, important, somewhat important and not important. In the end, they will have a list of 10 top values that they can use as a compass to guide their ethical decisions.

Finally, the whole family can come together to create a list of 10 ten values that are important to the family.

Activity: When I…—This is a great primer for teaching children about emotional intelligence. Have your child write out different behaviors, the emotions attached to those behaviors and ultimately, what they need. This will help them understand the emotions they are expressing and how to identify what they actually want.

Discussion Guides

3. Research Activity: Pick one leader (Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Oprah Winfrey, Mother Teresa or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). Find a time they were criticized for their leadership. How did they respond to criticism? What lessons can be learned from the way they responded?

4. How do you respond to criticism in your day-to-day life? What are ways of knowing when feedback is meaningful or destructive?

5. What does it mean when people say they make decisions from their heart versus their mind? Can you think of a time you had to use both your mind and heart compass to make a decision?

{more questions available in the book…}

Questions for Parents, Grandparents, and Other Wisdom Keepers: Talking About Leadership

1. Who is the greatest leader you have personally encountered in your professional life? What were their values?

2. Can you think of an example, or two of a boss who was not a leader? Why didn’t they exhibit the traits and behaviors of a leader?

3. Why is leadership more than a title?

4. As a family, what are our top values (see values activity on the left side of the page)?

5. If someone could watch our family on videotape, what would they say we value most?

Questions for Children

1. What are the key ingredients to creating a place where people like to be and can do their best work? If you could make a recipe, what would it look like?

2. What’s the recipe for when you feel the most happy and productive? (Note: It’s a fun activity to actually make a recipe for everyone in the family and post it on the fridge).

3. How can you help others feel safe, honored and respected?

4. What does it mean when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream”? (Note: You can find the speech here.